Method and apparatus for treating batteries



Dec. 7, 1954 H. QUERENGASSER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BATTERIES Filed Feb. 15, 1951 INVENTOR- HUGO QUERENGZSSER BY E ATTORNEYS United States Patent lVIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BATTERIES Hugo Querengiisser, Ellwangen-Jagst, Germany Application February 15, 1951, Serial No. 211,019

2 Claims. (Cl. 136-175) This invention relates to an apparatus and method, the purpose of which is to increase the life and the storage capacity of batteries consisting of bipolar cells.

It was found that batteries which are composed of a plurality of bi-polar cells practically always contain air bubbles developed while the cells are placed one next to the other. These air bubbles produce corrosion at the edges of the negative electrodes and finally destroy the batteries.

An object of this invention 1s to eliminate these drawbacks and to provide an apparatus by means of WhlCl'l air bubbles in batteries may be effectively avoided.

Another object is to provide means increasing the life and the storage capacities of batteries consisting of bi-polar cells.

Yet another object is to provide batteries which Will have a substantially low inner resistance.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following SPBCIfiCfltlOIl.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found desirable to place a battery under vacuum and to provide it with a coating, preferably of 1nsulating substances such as paraffin, while the battery is under vacuum.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

The sole figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic, transverse section through an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

The drawing shows a battery 1 consisting of bi-polar cells 2 which is placed upon the bottom 3 of a container 4. The container 4 further includes side walls 5 and an inner cover 6 which is connected by clamping device 7 with an outer cover 8. The clamping device 7 consist essentially of a threaded rod 9 which meshes with the cover 8 and is connected at one end to the inner cover 6. A handwheel 10 is attached to the upper end of the threaded rod 9.

The container 4 constitutes a vacuum pump. The air from the interior of the pump 4 may be evacuated through a pipe 11 carrying a valve 12. A manometer 13 is mounted in the inner cover 6 and extends through the outer cover 8.

The pump 4 is located within an outer open container 14 which may be heated by any suitable means, not shown in the drawing, and which contains liquid paraflin 15.

The pump 4 communicates with the interior of the container 14 through a pipe 16 which carries a valve 17. The pipe 16 extends through one of the side walls 5 close to the bottom 3 of the pump container 4.

The apparatus is operated as follows:

The battery 1, which is composed of a plurality of bipolar cells 2, is placed upon the bottom 3 of the pump container 4 which is then hermetically closed by means of the clamping device 7, which presses the inner cover 6 tightly against the sealing ring 18 upon the walls 5. The air contained within the interior 19 of the pump container 4 is evacuated through the pipe 11. The valve 12 is open at that time, while the valve 17 is closed.

As soon as the operator determines by means of the manometer 13 that the desired degree of vacuum prevails in the space 19 the valve 11 is closed and the heating device of the container 14 is switched on to liquefy the paraffin 15 and to heat it to a desired extent. Thereupon, the valve 17 is opened so that liquid paraflin 15 will be forced into the chamber 19, and will cover the cells 2 of the battery 1. The valve 17 is closed as soon as the liquid paraffin 15 fills the chamber 19 to the desired level. Thereupon, the vacuum container 4 is removed from the container 14, air is introduced into the chamber 19 and superfluous parafiin is allowed to fiow out while a coating of paraffin will remain upon the cells 2 and will harden thereon. Excessive parafiin may also be removed from the chamber 19 by any suitable suction means, not shown in the drawing.

It is apparent that as a result of this procedure air bubbles in the cells 2 are effectively avoided, and all surfaces which could contain bubbles are coated by a parafiin coating.

It is apparent that parafiin may be conveniently replaced by some other substance, such as wax or a lacquer. It is preferred, however, to employ an insulating coating.

This arrangement will ative electrodes, and will mature destruction.

Another important advantage of this procedure is that the batteries provided with an insulating coating have a considerably lower inner resistance than prior art batteries.

The above example is given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and is subject to many variations and modifications within the scope of the inventive idea. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for increasing the life of batteries consisting of bi-polar cells, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a vacuum pump adapted to receive a cell, and comprising a bottom, side walls, a cover, a clamp for said cover, a pipe located close to said bottom for supplying paraflin to said pump, a valve upon said pipe, an evacuating pipe connected with said cover, a valve upon the last-mentioned pipe, and a manometer connected with said cover, and a container containing said pump and adapted to be filled with paraffin.

2. The method of increasing the life of batteries consisting of bi-polar cells, which comprises providing a vacuum about a battery consisting of bipolar cells and coating it with a liquid solidifiable insulating coating while it is under vacuum.

prevent corrosion at the negsave the batteries from pre- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,027,088 Villiers May 21, 1912 1,270,969 Parker July 2, 1918 2,047,260 Franklin July 14, 1936 2,047,273 Kopinski July 14, 1936 Patented Dec. 7, 1954- 

